Olive: A Novel: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Olive: A Novel: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Olive: A Novel is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Craik, Dinah Maria Mulock (1826–1887).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Olive: A Novel" by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik is a fictional work written in the mid-19th century. The novel introduces us to the titular character, Olive Rothesay, who is born into a world filled with superstitions and societal expectations. As the narrative unfolds, we witness the complex emotions surrounding her birth, her mother Sybilla's struggles, and her nurse Elspie's fierce loyalty as they navigate a society that often equates worth with outward beauty. The opening of the novel presents Olive's arrival into the world, accompanied by a foreboding prophecy from an old nurse who hints at troubles ahead. As Olive's mother, Sybilla, grapples with the reality of her daughter's deformity, the contrast between her beauty and her child's perceived ugliness sets the stage for the emotional turmoil that follows. The doctor, representing a voice of cold practicality, shares the grim news of Olive's condition with Elspie, who immediately feels a deep, protective love for the helpless babe. This initial glimpse of Olive's precarious place in a world fixated on appearances suggests a story rich with themes of maternal instinct, societal judgment, and the search for inner beauty amidst external struggles.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Olive: A Novel
- Author credits: Craik, Dinah Maria Mulock (1826–1887)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Bildungsromans
- Domestic fiction
- England -- Fiction
- Religious fiction
- Young women -- Fiction
- Young women with disabilities -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Novels
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


